The RevGalBlogPals Friday Five asks this important question, at least for those of us who live in the Snow Belt: What are five things to do to beat the cabin fever that tends to settle in 'round about his time of year?Oh! Oh! Oh! [raising hand] Michigan girl here, a veteran of 48 winters, with some ideas:
1. Peruse seed catalogs. Or, as we like to call them at our house, garden porn. Nothing takes the edge off a subfreezing day like dreams of verdant herbs, prolific vegetables and bright flowers.
2. Play Scrabble. Who knew that this, and not our Wii, would become our winter entertainment of choice? Fellow Traveler and I usually have at least two games of our own going on Facebook, plus other games with assorted friends and family. If you're on Facebook, dear readers -- got game? "Friend" me...and we'll just see about that.
3. Conduct a Freezer Iron Chef competition. One household member selects a neglected bag/bundle from the freezer. Another household member is then offered the challenge of incorporating this ingredient into a creative and delicious home-cooked meal. We just did this; I wound up with a package of mahi-mahi, and turned it into citrus-marinated baked mahi-mahi filets, served with tamari-seasoned Israeli couscous and green beans. (You can read all about it on my food blog .) Related winter pastime: Competitive soup making. And in both cases, with any luck, everybody wins, all the time. Unless the freezer bundle is that forgotten rump roast from 2006.
4. Get fit with Dog Aerobics. As in: Let the dogs out. Let the dogs in. Let the dogs out. Let the dogs in. Let the dogs out. Let the dogs in. Let the dogs out...
5. Indulge in a temporary hobby fixation. I haven't done this in awhile, not since the knitting and counted cross-stitch eras of several years ago. When I was a kid I used to look at my aunt's January Better Homes and Gardens magazines, which always contained scads of crafting ideas -- Turn a discarded bottle into a vase with a masking-tape-and-lacquer mosaic! Weave a colorful belt with a drinking-straw loom! Sew old silk ties into a groovy midi skirt! -- and become entranced by some such project. It helps to have an understanding family during these times, especially if the hobby in question involves stuff lying around, or noise(Learn to play the ocarina!).
11 comments:
I'm there with #3! #4 too.
dog aerobics... of it were only as easy as opening the door. since the fence came down... (long story)... and since mochajava likes to wander around town... it involves me throwing on snow gear, grabbing leash and myself going in and out, in and out... arrrggh!
and to think i almost considered getting a puppy this winter... haaaahaaaa little doggie. little bladder. that'd be a "no puppy".
LOL with garden porn...but I do remember as a kid making a "wish list" when the garden catalogs came...mostly flowers.
"garden porn" ~snickers~
Love #3! What fun! And I understand #4 so well.
I'd love to come and stay awhile--but only if we can play Scrabble...
I must try the Iron Chef deal
I've just become acquainted with #4. And I love to play Scrabble! :)
Oh, I do all these too (garden porn...hahahahah) except we have no dog at present. I love word games! Stay warm over there in Michigan.
Love the Iron Chef idea. More than garden porn, I'm into food porn, so I'll have to check out the food blog.
Great play!
How do I friend you on facebook and how do I play scrabble there. I'm a facebook novice. Or postulant.
Facebookers: Look for "Ellen Polzien" on Facebook and send me a Friend request.
In light of #5, I must share the Christmas gift I got from an enthusiastic 9 y/o...a set of duct tape coasters!
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